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The century-old alliance between the US military and the scouts might be heading for a breakdown.
A century old alliance between Scouting America and the US military is facing fresh uncertainty after reports suggested the U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, is considering cutting formal ties.
According to NPR, a draft memo circulating in Washington outlines Hegseth’s concerns about the group, formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America, and its direction since opening membership to girls in 2018.
The document has not been officially submitted to Congress and has not been verified by other outlets.
The Pentagon declined to address the matter directly, saying it “will not comment on leaked documents that we cannot authenticate and that may be pre-decisional”.
Undermines “the future of American boys”
In the memo, NPR reported, Hegseth accused the group of abandoning traditions he associates with “boy-friendly spaces” and wrote that “it is no longer a meritocracy which holds its members accountable to meet high standards”.
He also argued the organization’s evolution undermines “the future of American boys”, contrasting it with endorsements once offered by President Theodore Roosevelt.
Scouts push back
Scouting America said it remained proud of its long-standing relationship with the military and described itself as “surprised and disappointed” by the reported proposal.
The group reiterated that it is a nonpartisan institution that has collaborated with “every US presidential administration – Republican and Democrat”.
Its core mission, the organization said, is to prepare young people for adulthood through “character, leadership, citizenship, and service”.
Goodbye to logistical help
For more than 100 years, the Pentagon has supplied vehicles, medical teams and other logistical help to support the National Jamboree, a massive gathering of Scouts in West Virginia held roughly every four years.
Hegseth’s draft proposal would block that assistance and bar Scout troops from meeting on US military bases domestically and overseas.
Undermining defense with gender confusion?
While federal law requires Pentagon support for the Jamboree, the defense secretary has authority to halt it if he deems such involvement harmful to national security.
NPR reported that Hegseth claims in the memo that Scouting America contributes to “gender confusion” and that reallocating troops and equipment to the event could undermine homeland defense.
Sources: NPR, The Guardian
